Sundance looking for SA short films for TV competition

Cape Town – AMC Networks International is launching a 2018 SundanceTV film competition and is now looking for South African short film entries.

The winning film will be broadcast on SundanceTV (DStv 108) later this year and will premiere during the Sundance Film Festival in London taking place from the end of May.

South African filmmakers can now enter films for the inaugural 2018 SundanceTV Shorts Competition until 15 April at www.sundancetv.co.za. Shorts must not be longer than 15 minutes and the producer or director of the film must provide proof of South African residency.

Submitted films must be delivered with English subtitles if English isn't the spoken language in the film, and films must meet the official rules and technical requirements.

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content, will be part of the panel of jurors judging the competition this year, along with SundanceTV and the Sundance Institute.

"The SundanceTV Shorts Competition reflects the very essence of the channel," says Geraud Alazard, the senior vice president of marketing at AMC Networks International.

"It encapsulates SundanceTV’s unique energy and passion, shining a spotlight on independent storytelling and emerging talent. We're incredibly excited to collaborate with Sundance Institute again this year and we're enormously grateful for the support of our affiliate partner, MultiChoice."

Mike Plante, the senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, says: "The SundanceTV Shorts Competition plays an admirable role in highlighting and celebrating the medium of short film and seeking out new film making talent. It's always a real treat to view the surprising and diverse entries."

The Jury Prize for the 2018 SundanceTV Shorts competition will be judged on a number of criteria, including creativity, entertainment value, original storytelling and production values.

The jury, presided by Mike Plante of Sundance Institute, will include Harold Gronenthal from SundanceTV Global, Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content, and Helen Kuun of Indigenous Film.

The winner will receive a trip for two to London and their film will be screened during Sundance Film Festival: London at a SundanceTV event in June. The winner will be announced in May.